Boosting near-visible H2 generation via TiZn2O4 S-Scheme heterojunction photocatalyst

Title : Boosting near-visible H2 generation via TiZn2O4 S-Scheme heterojunction photocatalyst

Abstract:

Photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) production from water splitting using solar energy offers a highly promising and sustainable solution to global carbon emission challenges. This study introduces a novel TiZn2O4 nanocomposite designed to significantly enhance photocatalytic activity under near-visible light irradiation by synergistically combining titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO). We thoroughly characterized the as-prepared materials' morphology, band structure, and charge separation properties using a suite of advanced analytical techniques, including XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDX, UV–Vis DRS, PL, Mott–Schottky measurements, and XPS analysis. Our findings confirm that the formation of a TiZn2O4 heterojunction is crucial. This heterojunction profoundly promotes visible-light utilization, inhibits charge recombination, and accelerates the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, all of which collectively contribute to the remarkable enhancement of its photocatalytic ability. The TiZn2O4 photocatalyst exhibited an outstanding hydrogen generation rate of 428 mmol h-¹ g-¹ when exposed to 385 nm near-visible light from a 110W UVA lamp. This superior performance is directly attributed to the synergistic effect between TiO2 and ZnO, facilitating efficient hole transfer through the S–S heterojunction interface. Furthermore, the TiZn2O4 nanocomposite demonstrated exceptional photostability, maintaining its high efficiency over seven consecutive reuse cycles. These compelling results obviously demonstrate that the TiZn2O4 nanocomposite is a practical, highly efficient, and sustainable photocatalyst for green hydrogen generation from water under near-visible light, presenting a significant advancement in renewable energy technologies.

Keywords: Hydrogen generation, Water-splitting, Heterojunction, UVA irradiation.

Biography:

Prof./Asmaa Said Morshedy Mohammed is an Assistant Professor of Applied Physical Chemistry at the Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (EPRI). She is the head of one Refinery department labs. She holds a PhD in Applied Physical Chemistry from Ain Shams University (2016) and a Master’s in Organic Chemistry from Minufiya University (2008). Her research focuses on Photocatalysis, Environmental chemistry, and Sustainable materials. Dr. Asmaa has published extensively on Diesel fuel desulfurization, Hydrogen production and storage, and Water purification. She has received prestigious awards, including the Prof. Osama Elkholy Prize in Environmental Studies (2020) from Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT), and is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Renowned for her contributions to science, she continues to advance sustainable solutions in Energy and the Environment.